I think we do

Apart from the young players who have a chance of coming through the ranks having a reserve side gives the other players at the club who are already at first team standard a chance to play if they are not currently in the first team for whatever reason, be it coming back from injury or whatever.
It may seem a contradiction though that since we are skint how we can run a reserve side with the importance of finishing in the top and the first team not looking strong enough.

[Not sure how much it costs to run the Reserve side. Halifax RLFC independent supporters trust raise money to help run the side i believe and not sure but dont think reserves get paid. they train on same nights as 1st team so wouldn't have thought extra funds needed for training facilities

Yes it is the supporters trust who raise the money and do a cracking job, I thought the figured was around £25,000 but could be wrong.
In the past I believe the trust asked the club what they would like the funds to be used for and the reserves were chosen.
I have sponsored reserve team players in the past but lost my job last year so couldn't afford to help out for this season but drop a few quid in the bucket at home games now I am back in work.
The club must have thought it through before this season started because retaining the reserves was in doubt at one stage, whether the extra money would have strengthened the first team sufficiently we will never know.

I'm expecting Punchard to be in the squad soon. The 6/7 combo needs a change at some point